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U.S. employers announced fewer layoffs in September, but hiring plans for the year are at their lowest since 2009, signaling a standstill in the labor market. The government shutdown has delayed key economic reports, adding to the challenges faced in understanding the current state of the workforce. Companies are navigating policy and technology advances that are reshaping labor dynamics, leading to a decrease in demand and supply of workers.

Challenger, Gray & Christmas reported a 37% drop in planned job cuts in September, with employers announcing the highest year-to-date number of job cuts since 2020. Hiring plans are also low, indicating a lack of growth in the labor market. Factors such as cost increases, new technology, and uncertain government policies are contributing to the stagnation. The impact of the shutdown on federal workers and the rise of artificial intelligence in the technology sector are further complicating the job market landscape. If the shutdown continues, key economic reports will remain delayed, affecting decision-making across various sectors.

The US job market faced a stall in September due to sluggish hiring and no change in the unemployment rate, influenced by a decline in foreign-born workers. With the federal government shutdown delaying key reports, alternative data from sources like the Chicago Fed estimated the jobless rate at 4.3%, signaling ongoing labor market sluggishness. Meanwhile, planned layoffs decreased by 37% in September, but hiring remained slow, indicating a stagnant market affected by immigration policies and technological advancements.

Despite conflicting signals on the cause of weak job growth, factors like trade policy uncertainty and AI advancement have impacted demand for workers. The National Federation of Independent Business reported a shortage of qualified applicants, reflecting the challenges in the hiring process. As the shutdown continues, critical reports on consumer prices, retail sales, and inflation data for September are at risk of not being published, affecting decision-making across sectors. Reporting by Ann Saphir emphasizes the need for alternative sources to understand the economy during this government stalemate.

An electric vehicle charging location is shown from the view of a drone in Carlsbad, California, U.S., as automotive executives anticipate a sharp drop in EV sales due to the elimination of a crucial $7,500 tax break for buyers. Ford CEO Jim Farley predicts EV sales to plummet to 5% of total U.S. vehicle sales, a significant decrease from the recent record-high levels. With the tax credit expired, automakers like Nissan are preparing for fierce competition as they struggle to find buyers for their electric cars in a market flooded with inventory.

Despite efforts by GM and Ford to mitigate the impact of losing the tax incentive, dealerships are adopting a cautious approach by reducing EV inventory. The U.S. market lags behind China and Europe in EV adoption, and the removal of the tax credit poses a challenge for dealers who fear being left with unsold EVs. While some remain optimistic about the future of EVs, concerns loom over the potential impact on sales of higher-priced models in the absence of government incentives.

The United States has agreed to allow South Korean workers on short-term visas or a visa waiver program to help build industrial sites in America, as announced by Seoul’s Foreign Ministry. This decision comes in the aftermath of an immigration raid at a battery factory being built on Hyundai’s auto plant campus in Georgia, which led to the detainment of over 300 South Korean nationals. The incident sparked outrage in South Korea and highlighted the need for improved visa systems for skilled Korean workers.

Following bilateral visa talks in Washington, it was reaffirmed that South Korean companies can use B-1 short-term business visas or the ESTA program to send workers for installation, servicing, and repair tasks in the United States. While South Korea has called for more fundamental changes to the visa system, U.S. officials cited legislative constraints as a hindrance to major overhauls. The detained Korean workers, mostly employed by LG Energy Solution and its subcontractors, are now set to return to complete their work as both countries navigate the complexities of labor migration and industrial investments.

SharkNinja’s rise from vacuum maker to global appliance powerhouse is no accident. A Forbes feature credits its success to a consumer-first approach, rapid prototyping across global teams, and a culture that encourages experimentation.

By focusing on solving everyday pain points and balancing performance with value, SharkNinja has expanded beyond cleaning into kitchen, beauty, and outdoor categories. Analysts say its repeatable innovation system — fast, disciplined, and consumer-driven — is the engine behind its relentless growth.

Charlie Javice, the founder of a startup acquired by JPMorgan Chase for $175 million, was sentenced to over seven years in prison for defrauding the bank by overstating the number of customers the fintech firm had. Javice and her chief growth officer were found guilty of fraud and conspiracy to commit fraud. Despite expressing remorse and asking for forgiveness, Javice received an 85-month prison sentence, $22.36 million in forfeiture, and $287 million in restitution to JPMorgan. The court found that Javice had inflated the number of customers using synthetic identities before the acquisition, leading to an embarrassing situation for JPMorgan as they failed to verify the actual number of customers before the purchase.

Ford Motor CEO Jim Farley expressed his expectation of a significant drop in demand for all-electric vehicles following the end of federal tax incentives. He anticipates EV sales to decrease from a record market share of 10% to 12% to just 5% after the incentive program expires. Farley noted that the industry may shift towards hybrids as customers find partial electrification more acceptable in the current context. The impending changes in policy and incentive structures will require the auto industry, including Ford, to adapt and make adjustments to their strategies and operations.